Tinubu Reappoints Marwa as NDLEA Chairman, Hails Landmark Anti-Drug Achievements
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the renewal of the appointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for another five-year term, extending his leadership of the Agency until 2031.
General Marwa, who hails from Adamawa State, was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021 after successfully chairing the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) from 2018 to 2020. His reappointment reflects the Federal Government’s confidence in his transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.
A distinguished military officer and administrator, Marwa is a graduate of the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973, he has served in several critical military positions, including Brigade Major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma, and Academic Registrar of the NDA.
He also held strategic diplomatic roles as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and later as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Marwa holds two advanced degrees:
- Master of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh (1983–1985)
- Master of Public Administration, Harvard University (1985–1986)
Since assuming leadership of the NDLEA, General Marwa has implemented far-reaching reforms and strengthened Nigeria’s war against drug trafficking. His tenure has recorded exceptional achievements, including:
- Arrest of over 73,000 drug traffickers, including several notorious barons
- Seizure of more than 15 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs
- Nationwide sensitization and awareness campaigns against drug abuse
- Improved inter-agency collaboration and enhanced operational capacity of NDLEA personnel
President Tinubu commended Marwa for his dedication and urged him to continue intensifying efforts to rid the nation of illicit drugs.
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“Your reappointment is a vote of confidence in your onerous efforts to rid our country of the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse. I urge you not to relent in tracking the merchants of hard drugs who are out to destroy our people, especially the young ones,” President Tinubu stated.
The presidency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ongoing reforms within the NDLEA and strengthening Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.
Tinubu Reappoints Marwa as NDLEA Chairman, Hails Landmark Anti-Drug Achievements